Vacuum producing equipment



Feb. 6, 1934.

H. M. GRAHAM VACUUM PRODUCING EQUIPMENT Filed April l, 1955 lNVENTOR if (110161 @ufiafiz ATTORNEYS Patented rebse; Iss4 g M 1,945,973

UNITED, s rA'rEs PATENT OFFICE 1.945.973 I vacuum rnonocmc EQUIPMENT.

Harold M. Graham, uflalo, N. Y., assignor, by

mesne assignments, to Ross Heater & Mfg. Co. 1110., Buffalo, N. Y., a corporation oi New York (1933) Application April 1, 1933. Serial No. 663,958 13 Claims. (01. 230-103) This invention relates to vacuum producing Figure 3 is a fragmentary view in elevation of equipment of the kind which utilizes steam ejeca modified form of the equipment.' v

tors to maintain the required vacuum in the The invention is illustrated in connection with working chamber of the apparatus with which the cooling of frigerating m um which is the equipment is associated. The invention is to be circulated through the cooling coils of a 60 characterized by features which render it of parrefri e a in syst The sy t i uffi t y ticular tility in connection with refrigerating indicated by a showing of a chamber 5 thereof in systems, air conditioning apparatus, water coolwhich cooling of the refrig r in m di m i efing and similar systems. It is understood, or f et d, t e said c amb r be de im t d by t V 19 course, that the advantages or the invention may wa ls of a container 511- Th refrigerating 5 be obtained in connection with other types of div-m i Conducted o he o lin ham by a apparatus, the uses specifically noted being by pipe 6 and is preferab y introduced in t o way of example only. of a spray, a predetermined quantity of the said It is the practice, in connection with the use med um being m ta in t amb in is oi equipment of the type generally described, to a s ab e m T refrigerating diu 70 employ condensers for condensing the steam disis withdrawn from the cooling Chamb through charged from the ejectors, a vacuum of as high P p y a pu p he latt r being availa a degree as practical being maintained in the to effect circulation ofithe refrigerating medium condensers. The degree of vacuum that can be through the COOhIIg coils f t ys e maintained in the working chamber of the ap- Arelatively high vacuum, for example an abso- 75 paratus is dependent, among other factors, upon lute Pressure of Pounds, is a n ai ed in the the degree of vacuum that is maintained in the chamber 5 whereby h refrigerating d u condensers. As the cooling wat r whi h i which is introducedintothe chamber is lowered culated through the condensers is, in most cases, to and maintained at h temperature r d.

2 subject to seasonal changes in temperature, The vacuum is Produced and maintained by 89 there will be corresponding variations in the electors 9 and 10, each the electors including vacuum in the condensers and hence, other facnazzles Steam is Supplied to the l t 9 tors remaining constant, corresponding variafrom Pipes 12 and 13 p v y, each tions in the vacuum in the working chamber. of the said p in l n a control valve 14.

ik th 1 m upon t equipment, as repre- The ejectors are arranged in a header 15. The 85 sented by the work to be performed in the worklatter is suitably secured to .a flange 16a which ing chamber, for x pl t maintenance of is formed or provided upon-the container 5a a refrigerating m di t predetermined t and which delimits an outlet opening 161) formed perature, is variable. While, therefore, the therein The steam Which is diseharged from equipment t b capable f perfgrming t the ejectors and the entrained vaporsirom-the 90 work required under the most adverse condicooling chamber a discharged h ou he tions, such conditions are not representative of throat-$16 and 17 0f the i r int0 a 1 d denser 18, the latter including conduits 19 and o object f t present invention is to 20 with which the throats of the ejectors comvide equipment having a variable capacity, this municatei objectv contemplating the use of a plurality of The condenser 18 dmded P Perhtm 21 ejectors which may be rendered operative and fi g g i' 3 dlscharg ing roug e con ui in o e ormer an 7 fifgig; 2 .g ggz l ii g gfig 2 :23: 2? the ejector 10 discharging through the conduit 4 ejectors and i g condensing megans whereb; 20 into the latter. A relatively high vacuumis 100 n chofthe 'd hmbe 'I' to provide equipment which, is low in cost and fig ggg fi g 24 and 25 i j g f 2 which is economical from an operating standf r r communicates nchamber 22 Point through an intake pipe 26 while the latterrcomto The invention i illustrated in the o municates with the chamber 23 throughan in- 10s ing drawing; in which:- take pipe 27. The intake pipes 26 and'27 include Figurel is a plan view of equipment embodyvalves 28 and 29 respectively, whereby communiing features of the invention. cation between the condensing chambers and Figure 2 is a longitudinal section taken along their respective ejectors may be cut-offer establine 2-2 of Figure 1. lished at will. Bafiles 26a .and.2'7a'are prefer- 11o ably arranged in the chambers 22 and 23, the said bafiies being adapted to deflect the incoming steam away from the entrances to the intake pipes 26 and 27. Each of the ejectors 24 and 25 includes a steam supply pipe which is provided with a control valve 31 and they discharge into a common condenser 32 in which a vacuum is maintained by an ejector .33. The ejector 33 includes an intake pipe 34 which communicates with the said condenser and a throat 35 through which the steam from the ejector is discharged into a secondary condenser 36, the said secondary condenser being in communication with the atmosphere through a vent 37. The condensers 32 and 36 may be of any conventional construction and may include suitable inlet and outlet connections 32a and 36a through which cooling water may be introduced and discharged.

The condenser 18 includes heads 38 and 39. The former is divided by a partition 40 into an inlet and outlet chamber, the cooling water being introduced into the inlet chamber through a pipe 41. From the inlet chamber the water passes through the cooling tubes 41a in the chamber 22 to the head 39. The cooling water returns from the latter through the cooling tubes 42"of the chamber 23 to the outlet chamber of the head 38. The water is discharged from the outlet chamber through a pipe 43. As the cooling water is first introduced into the cooling tubes in the chamber 22 it will be apparent that the tubes in thischamber will be cooler than those in the chamber 23 through which the cooling water finally passes. The vacuum, therefore, which is maintained in the chamber 22 willbe higher than that which is maintained in the chamber 23. For example, if the absolute pressure in the former is one pound then the absolute pressure in the latter will be in the neighborhood of 1.25 pounds.

Means is provided for withdrawing the condensate from the chambers of the condenser 18. To this end the said condenser is provided with a drain pipe 44 which communicates with the chamber 22. The chamber23 is in communication with the drain pipe 44 through a conduit 46, the latter being formed or provided with a U- shaped'section or trap 4'7 through which the condensate must flow in passage to the drain pipe.

In theoperation of the equipment, assuming that both ejectors are operating and that the absolute pressure in the chamber 5 is .15 pounds, the absolute pressure in the condensing chamber 22 one pound and that in-the condensing chamber 23 1.25 pounds, then the condensate from the chamber 23 will accumulate in and flow through the trap 47 into the drain pipe 44. In the latter it accumulates with the condensate which is withdrawn from the chamber 22. The condensate whichthus accumulatesin the drain pipe 44 is withdrawn by a pump 48 and conducted to a convenient point of disposal.

The equipment illustrated includes two ejectors. It is to be understood that this is for the purpose of fllustration only as the number of the ejectors maybe varied to meet the requirements of the particular installation, such number being deter-'- mined in accordance with the maximum load that the equipment is required to-carry. The invention, therefore, contemplates that under normal operating conditions certain of the ejectors will not be required and hence, to the ends of economy, will be inoperative at such times. Thus, for ex-. ample, in the embodiment illustrated, if it is'as sumed that the ejector 9 is capable of carrying the normal load, then the ejector 10 will be availed of in conjunction with the former only at infrequent intervals. Thus, under normal operating conditions the control valve 14 of the ejector 10 will be closed. The ejector 9 in maintaining thetially the same value as that maintained in the chamber 5, is higher than the vacuum which is maintained in the chamber 22, for example the absolute pressure in the chamber 23 may be onehalf pound while that in the chamber 22 is one pound. In order to prevent a back-flow through l the drain pipe 44 and conduit 46 to the chamber 23, and hence to the chamber 5, the legs of the trap' 47 are so formed that the differential in pressures between the chambers 22 and 23 will not be high enough to force the liquid which provides the seal out of the trap. When the ejector 10 is inoperative the valve be closed. The valve 29 of the intake pipe 27 is likewise closed in order to prevent a back-flow from the condenser '32 to the condensing chamber 23. Each of the ejectors 9 and 10 may, as illustrated, be rendered operative or inoperative at will and they may be of similar or "different capacities.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the capacity of the equipment may be varied as prevailing conditions require, whereby to maintain the consumption of steam'and hence the cost of operation at a minimum. A further advantage obtained is that the equipment is economical from a manufacturing standpoint.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 3, the main condenser 49 is divided, as in the embodiment described heretofore, into two condensing chambers. The said chambers which are indicated at 50 and 51, are maintained under a vacuum by ejectors 52 and 53 as has been described in connection with theembodiment shown in Figure 1. In the present embodiment each of the condensing chambers includes a drain pipe 54 through which the condensate from the condensing chambers is discharged into a collecting receptacle 55, the said drain pipes being formed to provide traps 56. The receptacle 55 is in communication with the condensing chamber 50 through a. pipe 5'7, whereby it is maintained under a vacuum which corresponds to the vacuum which is maintained in the condensing chamber. Thetraps 56 permit the condensate from the condensing chambers to flow to the collecting receptacle but are adapted to prevent any back-flow between the collecting receptacle and the said chambers. The condensate which accumulates in the receptacle 55 may be withdrawn by a pump 58. In other respects the construction shown is substantially similar to that described in connection with the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 and 2.

. I claim as my invention:

1. Vacuum producing equipment including a working chamber, a plurality of ejectors which communicate with'said chamber and which are adapted to maintain a vacuum therein, means for condensing the steam which is discharged from said ejectors, saidmeans including a condensing chamber and an auxiliary ejector for maintaining a vacuum in said chamber, and means for individually rendering said first mentioned ejectors operative and inoperative at will,

31 of the ejector 25 mayremove whereby the capacity of the equipment may be regulated as prevailing conditions require.

2. Vacuum producing equipment including a working chamber, a plurality of ejectors which communicate with said chamber and which are adapted to maintain a vacuum therein, a condenser into which said ejectors discharge, means for maintaining a vacuum in said condenser and means for indivdually rendering said ejectors operative and inoperative at will, whereby the capacity of the equipment may be regulated as prevailing conditions require.

3. Vacuum producing equipment including a working chamber, a plurality of primary ejectors for maintaining a vacuum in the said chamber. means for individually rendering said ejectors operative and inoperative at will, a primary condenser, means for dividing said condenser into a plurality of condensing chambers. auxiliary ejectors for maintaining a vacuum in said condensing chambers, said auxiliary eiectors including intake pipes which communicate with said condensin chambers, an auxiliary condenser into which said auxiliary ejectors discharge, means for rendering said auxiliary ejectors inoperative and valves in said intake pipes, whereby in the vent that one of said rimary ejectors is rendered inoperative, the auxiliary ejector which is utilized in connection with the condensing chamber into which said primary ejector discharges may be rendered inoperative without permitting a back flow from the auxiliary condenser to the primary condenser.

4. Vacuum producing equipment including a working chamber, a plurality of primary ejectors for maintaining a vacuum in the said chamber,

means for individually rendering said ejectors operative and inoperative at will, a primary condenser, means for dividing said condenser into a plurality of condensing chambers, said ejectors being adapted to discharge into said condensing chambers, auxiliary ejectors for maintaining a vacuum in said condensing chambers, said auxiliary ejectors including intake pipes which communicate with said condensing chambers, an aux iliary condenser into which said auxiliary ejectors discharge, means for maintaining a vacuum in said auxiliary condenser and valves in the said intake pipes, whereby in the event that one or said primary 'ejectors is rendered inoperative the auxiliary ejector which is employed in connection with the condensing chamber into which 1 said primary ejector discharges may be rendered inoperative without permitting a back-flow from the auxiliary condenser to the primary condenser.

5. Vacuum producing equipment including a working chamber, a plurality of primary ejectors which communicate with said chamber and which are adapted to maintain a vacuum therein,

means for individually rendering said ejectors operative and inoperative at will, a condenser, means for dividing said condenser into a plu= rality of condensing chambers, one of said pri= mary ejectors discharginginto each of said condensing chambers, auxiliary ejectors for main= taining a vacuum in said condensing chambers and means for withdrawing the condensate from said condensing chambers, said means including a conduit which communicates with two of said condensing chambers and which is formed to provide a trap in which a liquid seal is maintained, whereby to prevent a back-flow between the said condensing chambers.

6. Vacuum producing equipment including a working chamber, a plurality of ejectors which communicate with said chamber and which are with said receptacle, said conduit being formed to provide a trap in which a liquid seal is maintained, whereby to prevent a back-flow between the said condensing chambers.

7. Vacuum producing equipment including a working chamber, a plurality of primary eiectors which communicate with said chamber and which are adapted to maintain a vacuum therein, means for individually rendering said ejectors operative and inoperative at will, means for providing a plurality of condensing chambers, said ejectors discharging into said condensing chambers, auxiliary ejectors for maintaining a vacuum in said condensing chambers and means for withdrawing the condensate from said condensing chambers, said means including a collecting chamber in which a vacuum is maintained anda conduit for connecting one of said condensing chambers with said collecting chamber, said conduit being formed to provide a trap in which a liquid seal is maintained, whereby to prevent a back-flow between said collecting chamber and said condensing chamber.

8. Vacuum producing equipment including a working chamber, a plurality of primary ejectors which communicate with said chamber and which are adapted to maintain a vacuum therein, means for individually rendering said ejector-s operative and inoperative at will, means for providing a plurality of condensing chambers, said ejector-s discharging-into said condensing chambers, auxiliary ejectors for maintaining a vacuum in said condensing chambers and means for withdrawing the condensate frcm said condensing chambers, said means. including a collecting chamber in which a vacuum is maintained and a conduit for connecting each condensing chamber with said collecting chamber, said conduits being formed to provide traps in which liquid seals are maintained, whereby to prevent a backflow between said collecting chamber and said condensing chambers.

9. Vacuum producing equipment including a working chamber, a plurality of primary ejectors which communicate with said chamber and which are adapted to maintain a vacuum therein, means for individually rendering said ejectors operative and inoperative at will, a condenser. means for dividing said condenser into a plurality of condensing chambers, said ejectors dis charging into said chambers, auxiliary ejectors for maintaining a vacuum in said condensing chambers and means for withdrawing the condensate from said condensing chambers, said last named means including a collecting chamber in which a vacuum is maintained and a conduit for connecting one of said condensing chambers to said collecting chamber, said conduit being i'ormed to provide a trap in which a liquid seal is maintained, whereby to prevent a back-flow between said collecting chamber and said condensing chamber.

10. Vacuum producing equipment including a working chamber, a plurality of primary ejectors for maintaining a vacuum in the said chamber, means for individually rendering said ejectors operative and inoperative at will, means for providing a plurality of condensing chambers, one of said primary ejectors discharging into each of said condensing chambers, auxiliary ejectors for maintairfing a vacuum in said condensing chambers, said auxiliary ejectors including intake pipes which commimicate with said condensing chambers, an auxiliary condenser into which said auxiliary ejectors discharge, means for rendering said auxiliary ejectors operative and inoperative at will and valves in said intake pipes which may be closed to cut oif communication between said auxiliary condenser and said condensing chambers, whereby in the event that one of said primary ejectors is rendered inoperative, the auxiliary ejector which is employed to evacuate the condensing chamber into which said primary ejector discharges may be rendered inoperative without permitting a back-flow from the auxiliary condenser to said last named condensing chamber.

11. Vacuum producing equipment including a working chamber, a plurality of ejectors which communicate with said chamber and which are adapted to maintain a vacuum therein, means for individually rendering said ejectors operative and inoperative at will, means for providing a plurality of condensing chambers, one of said ejectors discharging into each of said condensing chambers, independent means for evacuating each of said condensing chambers, means whereby one of said last named means may be rendered inoperative in the event that the ejector which discharges into the condensingchamher with which it is associated is rendered inoperative, means common to at least two of said condensing chambers for withdrawing the condensate from them and means for preventing a back-flow between said condensing chambers through said last named means when the ejector and evacuating means associated with one of said condensing chambers are inoperative.

12. Vacuum producing equipment including a working chamber, a plurality of primary ejectors which communicate with said chamber .and which areadapted to maintain a vacuum therein, means for individually rendering said ejectors operative and inoperative at will, means for providing a plurality of condensing chambers, one of said primary ejectors discharging into each of said condensing chambers, auxiliary ejectors for maintaining a vacuum in said condensing chambers, means for rendering said aux iliary ejectors operative and inoperative at will, and means for withdrawing the condensate from said condensing chambers, said means including a conduit which communicates with at least two of said condensing chambers and which is formed to provide a trap in which a liquid seal is maintained, whereby to prevent a back-flow between said condensing chambers when the primary and auxiliary ejectors associated with one of them are inoperative.

13. Vacuum producing equipment including a working chamber, a plurality of primary ejectors for maintaining a vacuum in the said chamber, means for individually rendering said ejectors operative and inoperative at will, means for providing a plurality of condensing chambers, one of said primary ejectors discharging into each of said condensing chambers, auxiliary ejectors for maintaining a vacuum in said condensing chambers, said auxiliary ejectors including in-- take pipes which communicate with said condensing chambers, an auxiliary, condenser into which said auxiliary ejectors discharge, means for rendering said auxiliary ejectors operative v and inoperative at will, valves in said intake pipes which may be closed to cut off communications between said auxiliary condenser and said condensing chambers, whereby in the event that one of said primary ejectors is rendered inoperative, the auxiliary ejector which is employed to evacuate the condensing chamber into which said primary ejector discharges may be rendered inoperative without permitting a back-flow from the auxiliary condenser to said last named condensing chamber, means common to at least two of said condensing chambers for withdrawing the condensate from-them and means for preventing a back-flow between said last named condensing chambers through said last named means when the primary and auxiliary ejectors associated with one of said condensing chambers are inoperative.

HAROLD M. GRAHAM. 

